Printing counter zeroizing apparatus



Aug. 31, 1954 B. COOPER ETAL PRINTING COUNTER ZEROIZING APPARATUS .m S r .r mg 7 If w .m m 2 e a Filed March 19, 1951 31, 1954 s. COOPER ET AL 2,687,691

PRINTING COUNTER ZEROIZING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @E/YJAM/N CooPEQ 4 1! ALBERT HOHMAN/Y Patented Aug. 31, I954 PRINTING COUNTER ZEROIZIN G APPARATUS Benjamin Cooper, New York, N. Y., and Albert Hohmann, Signor to said Cooper Application March 19, 1951,

18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to printing coun I Thus, a complete wheel will,

unit digit the transfer mechanism, ef-

drive means.

A further object is to provide means to lock said reset shaft stationary during printing operations.

Teaneck, N. J.; said Hohmann as- Serial No. 216,382

Other ancillary objects will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which various possible embodiments of the Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a printing counter illustrating the digit Wheel resetting means and mid-Way of the a printing operation.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken along lines B-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings,

3 The portion of shaft 24 extending outside of the other wall' 20 has mounted thereon, a fixed arm 32 supporting a spring pressed pawl 33, a revolvable ratchet 34 and pinion 36 and a fixed retaining collar 38. Disc 30, arm 32, ratchet 34, pinion 36, collar 38 and shaft 24 are elements of a digit wheel resetting mechanism, hereinafter described in detail.

Journalled on shaft 24 and interposed between frame side Walls 20 in spaced relation, are digit wheels 40, 42, and 44. A coaxial ratchet wheel 45 having ten teeth circumferentially spaced thereon, is secured to a side face of digit wheel 40. Digit wheel 40, the unit counting wheel, is coupled to digit wheel 42 through the usual transfer disc 40, pinion 48 and gear 50. Analogously, digit wheel 42 by means of a and gear 50. numerical in zero through the periphery thereof.

the Walls 20.

Washers '52 serve to space the digit wheels in proper operating relation.

Each of the digit wheels has mounted on its inner side face, as by stud 53, a small pawl 54 adapted to angularly engage the periphery of shaft 24 under the tension of a small leaf spring 56. Shaft 24 is provided with longitudinal groove 58 adapted to engage pawls 54 and latch the respective digit wheels thereto when said shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction. Accordingly, when said digit wheels are rotated in a clockwise direction, pawls 54 ride over groove 58 and are ineffective to latch the digit wheels to the shaft. The initial drive source for counting on digit wheels 40, 42, and 44 is provided by an electromagnet, not shown, but arranged to be mounted within counter frame I8 in a well known manner. The electro-magnet armature, also not shown, has an arm 09 depending therefrom that is arranged to oscillate each time the electro-magnet is energized. Arm 60 pivotally supports a pawl swing 62 that is urged by spring 04 into engagement with ratchet wheel 45. Thus, digit wheel 40 is rotated one tenth of a revolution with each oscillation. The aforesaid transfer mechanism will rot te digit wheel 42, the tens counting wheel, one complete revolution for each ten revolutions of unit digit wheel 40. The hundreds digit wheel 44 will similarly rotate one revolution with each ten revolutions of tens digit wheel 42. As shown in the drawings, digit wheels 40, 42, and 44 rotate clockwise during counting operations.

Means are provided to print a record of the total count accumulated on said digit wheels. To this end, there is provided a horizontally extending shaft 65 journalled at one end in vertical plate I6. Journalled on lation to counter-unit I0, is a substantially U- shaped hammer piece 68. Interposed between arms I of said hammer piece is a bushing 12 secured to shaft 00, as by screw I3, and provided with a transversely extending under-lip Also interposed between arms of hammer piece 08, is a rod It disposed in spaced relation with bushing I2 to overlie under-lip 14. An arm 18, secured to shaft 66 and extending oppositely from hammer piece 08, is pivotally secured to plunger 80 of solenoid 82. Therefore, energization of solenoid 82 will depress plunger 80 and rotate arm 18, bushing I2 and hammer piece 50 clockwise,

striking engagement with paper strip 84. Paper strip 84 is thereby pressed against digit wheels 40, 42, and 44 and a print is Hammer piece 08 is reset to the lower position indicated in dotted line by means of coil spring 80.

Means is provided to reset the digit wheels to zero printing position after a print has been made. Means directed toward this end resides of a transverse arm affixed to shaft 26. Arm 90 is pivotally connected to a link 92 which is, in turn, pivotally connected to an arm 94 affixed to printing shaft 00. A sector gear 96 is journalled on shaft 26 and has a pin 90 projecting horizontally therefrom. Pin 98 projects through an arcuate slot I00 formed in arm 90 and is provided for a purpose that will be hereinafter apparent. Teeth I02 on sector gear 96 are arranged for meshing engagement with pinion 30. Also secured to shaft 26 is an arm I04 which pivotally supports a link I00. Formed on the lower portion of link I06 is a shoulder I08 that abuts against flange H0 of pivotal member H2. Member H2 is provided with paralleled vertical arms I I4 having a transverse portion H6 extending therebetween. Shaft 28 extends through side walls 20 of counter frame I8 and the respective ends are secured in vertical arms H4. Shaft 28 thereby provides a pivot for Member H2 also has mounted between arms H4, a shaft H8 on which transfer journalled. Shaft H8 extends of matching arcuate slots I20 provided in counter frame side walls 20. The

further provided with a projection I2I that normally resides in notch I22 formed in disc 30. In this position, shaft 24 is locked against movement. Coil spring I24 disposed in tensioned relation between outer arm I I4 and counter frame I8 normally urges projection I2I into peripheral engagement with disc 30. Member H2 further supports a transverse shaft I26 that normally biases spring detents I28 out of engagement with digit wheel gears 50.

Flange H0 of member H2 has a slot I38 therein, open at one end, in which link I05 is disposed with shoulder I08 abutting against the closed portion of said slot. Spring I01 secured to link I06 and to frame wall 20, resiliently retains link I06 in slot I30. Thus, when link I05 is displaced downwardly, member H2 rotates clockwise until shoulder I08 slides off the angularly displaced flange H0. During the clockwise pivotal movement of member H2, transfer pinions 48 are moved out of engagement with the respective digit wheels and into engagement with spring detents I32 yieldably supported in transverse bar I34 secured between walls 20 of counter frame I8. Arcuate slots I20 in frame side walls 20 permit limited movement of transfer pinion shaft H8 therein. Concurrently therewith, spring detents I28 are allowed to engage gears 50. Spring detents I32 are provided to retain the transfer pinion in relative positions during the disengagement thereof for zero resetting operations. Analogously, spring detents I28 engage the digit wheel transfer gears to functionally dampen the digit wheels and thus prevent overthrow during digit wheel zero resetting operations.

Operation of the digit wheel resetting mechanism will now be described.

During counting operations, printing hammer piece 68 is disposed at its lowermost position, designated as I36 in Fig. I, and accordingly, arm and arm 90 are positioned in their respective counter-clockwise positions, not shown. Sector gear 96 is similarly disposed counterclockwise of the position shown in the drawings.

Upon the initiation of a printing operation by tion oi arm 90 rotates sector gear 96 clockwise locking means and thereafter rotate said shaft teeth on pinion 36 during the clockwise movement zeroizing said counter wheels.

of sector gear 96. Pinion 36 freely revolvable on 2, In a o nter, a rot table shaft, a plurality shaft 24, rotates counter-clockwise and ratchet of digit h ls nt for rot tio thereon, wheel 34 revolving therewith rides under pawl means t Zeroize t digit whee1s upon t twing 88 and is lneifective to rotate h f ing the shaft in one direction, said wheels being It will be apparent that projection I21 on memmember The clockwise printing stroke provides a means 25 and the digit wheel resetting mechanism is posir tioned to initiate a resetting operation. Conshaft lockin means tinued counter-clockwise rotation of arm 94, link In a winter 92 and arm 90 rotates shaft 26 counter-clockwise. of dlglt Wheels nlounted for rotatlon thereon,

causing shoulder I 08 to abut against flange H6 the shaft with the digit wheels and into engagement with spring detents I32. Further, projection i2! is moved out of notch I22 in disc 30 and shaft 2 3 40 is free to rotate. By means of pin 98 and slot 100 counter-clockwise rotation of sector gear 96 is delayed until me iber H2 has been pivoted to release shaft 24. When the lower end of slot it! engages pin 98, continued counter-clockwise roin position during movement of said member in pinion 36 engages pawl swing $3 on arm 32 and 0 osite direction rotates shaft 24 clockwise. Groove 58 in shaft 2 3 1 a counter a rotatable Shaft a plurality engages digit wheel pawls 54 irrespective of the of digit wheels mounted for rotation thereon,

angularly displaced and cams shoulder I us out of 55 upon the completion of one revolution, reengages member in one i cti n IZI r neaee no h I22, nsf r pi shaft in said direction of rotation of said shaft 48 similarly reengage the digit wheel transfer for zeroizing said means.

er in the opposite direction, means to print It W111 th ls be se n t a there IS p fl 1% against the digit wheels, and means controlled The invention laimedi move the printing means away from the digit 1. In a counter, a rotatable shaft, a plurality wheels during movement of said member in said of digit wheels mounted for rotation thereon, first direction. means to zeroize the digit wheels upon rotating 5. Inan electro-motive counter,acounter shaft,

a plurality of-digit wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, means on the shaft to zeroize the digit wheels upon rotating the shaft in one direction, said wheels being rotatable relative to said shaft in thesame direction during operation of said counter, 'a pivotally mounted shaft locking member having means to lock the shaft upon pivotal movement in one direction, and to release the shaft for rotation upon being pivotally moved in an opposite direction, a second shaft, an arm pivoted to the second shaft elective motive means, means deriving its power from said electric mofor oscillating said arm in opposite directions, means controlled by said second shaft for pivotally moving the first shaft locking means when said arm is rotated in one direction, and to leave the shaft locking member in looking position upon moving said arm in an opposite direction, means shaft in the direction for zeroizing the and a lost motion connection between said arm and said shaft rotating means to actuate the shaft rotating means upon moving in said first direction only after said movement of said arm in said first direction has caused pivotal movement of said locking means to release said first shaft.

' 6'. In a counter, a frame, a shaft rotatable thereon, a plurality of digit wheels mounted thereon, means to zeroize the digit wheels upon rotating the shaft in one direction, a disc fixed for rotation with said shaft and formed with a peripheral notch, a locking member pivoted on said frame and'having means to engage said notch to lock the shaft against rotation, a second shaft on said frame, an arm rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a second arm movable with the first arm about the axis of said second shaft, a member pivoted to the second arm and provided with means engaging said locking member for rotating the same when said second arm member from engagement with pivoted member being movable without affecting said locking member upon movement of said second arm in an opposite direction about its axis of rotation, a segmental gear rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a gear rotatable about the axis of the first shaft and meshing with said segmental gear, pawl and ratchet means interconnecting the second gear with said first shaft for rotating said shaft in the direction of zeroizing movement of the shaft upon moving the segmental gear in the first direction of rotation of said second arm, and permitting movement of said segmental gear in an opposite direction without rotating said first shaft, and a lost motion connection between said first arm and said segmental gear so that said first arm may have limited movement in the first direction of second arm without affecting said segmental gear, during which movement said pivoted member on the second arm releases said locking member.

'7. In a counter, a frame, a shaft rotatable thereon, a plurality of digit wheels mounted thereon, means to zeroize the digit wheels upon rotating the shaft in one direction, a disc fixed for rotation with said shaft formed with a peripheral pivoted on said frame and having means to engage said notch to lock the shaft against rotation, a second shaft on said frame, an arm rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a second arm movable with the first arm about the axis of said second shaft, a member pivoted to the second arm and provided with means engaging said locking member for rotating the same when is rotated in one direction about its axis to release the locking member from ensaid disc, and the being movable without affecting said locking member upon movement of said second arm in an opposite direction about its axis of rotation, a segmental gear rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a gear rotatable about the axis of the with said segmental gear, pawl means interconnecting the second first shaft for rotating said first direction of zeroizing movement shaft upon moving the segmental gear in the first direction of rotation of said second arm, and permitting movement of said segmental gear in an opposite direction without rotating said first shaft, and a lost motion connection between said first arm and said segmental gear so that said first arm may have limited movement in the first direction of said second arm, without affecting said segmental gear, during which movement said pivoted member on the second arm releases said locking memlber, means to print against the counter wheels, means to move the printing means toward the counter wheels upon moving said first arm in said opposite direction, and means to move said printing means away from the counter wheels upon moving said first arm in said first direction.

8. In a counter, a frame, a shaft rotatable thereon, a plurality of digit wheels mounted thereon, means to zeroize the digit wheels upon rotating the shaft in one direction, a disc fixed for rotation with said shaft and formed with a peripheral notch, a locking member pivoted on said frame and having means to engage said notch to lock the shaft against rotation, a second shaft on said frame, an arm rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a second arm movable with the first arm about the axis of said second shaft, a member pivoted to the second arm and provided with member for rotating the same when said second arm is rotated in one direction about its axis to release the locking member from engagement with the notch in said disc, and the pivoted member being movable without affecting said locking member upon movement of said second arm in an opposite direction about its axis of rotation, a segmental gear rotatable about the axis of the second shaft, a gear rotatable about the axis of the first shaft and meshing with said pawl and ratchet means interconnecting the second gear with said first shaft first shaft in the direction of zeroizing movement of said first shaft upon moving the segmental gear in the first direction of rotation of said second arm, and permitting movement of said segmental gear in an opposite direction without rotating said first shaft, and a lost motion connection between said first arm and said segmental gear so that said first arm may have limited movement in the first direction of said second arm, without affecting said segmental gear, during which movement said pivoted member on arm releases said locking member, counter wheels, means to move the printing means toward the counter wheels upon moving said first arm in said opposite direction, and means to move said printing means away from gear with said shaft in the the counter wheels upon moving said first arm in actuate said first oscillating means deriving said first direction, transfer mechanism interits power from said printin motive means, means connecting the digit wheels, and means conto zeroize said digit wheels upon rotating said fl e Said t a s er mechanism to the ckin shaft in one direction, a second oscillating means, member for dis n a ng the transfer mechanism means to actuate said second oscillating means In a counter, a frame, a shaft rotatable second oscillating means to rotate said first shaft thereon, a plurality of digit wheels mounted in said direction, and means to actuate said thereon, me s 0 ZerOiZe t d t W e up locking means after said shaft has rotated. rotating the shaft in one direction, a disc fixed 12. In combination, a counter comprising a for rotation with said shaft and formed with a shaft, a plurality of digit wheels rotatably Pe p notch, a locking m mber pivoted on mounted thereon, m ans normally locking said notch k t Shaft gainst rotation a secsaid digit wheels including a rockable shaft end shaft 0 1 said ame, an arm rotatable about means to zeroize said digit wheels upon rotating the axis of the second shaft, a second arm movsaid first shaft in one direction, oscillating means,

able with the first arm about the axis of said means actuatable by said second shaft to actuate axis to release the locking member from ensaid first shaft in the zeroizing direction, and

its axis of rotation, a segmental gear rotatable ed thereon, pivotal means normally locking said fir sha for t tin said fi t h ft in id first. shaft in one direction, oscillating means,

in an opposite direction without rotating said able by said oscillating means to rotate said affecting said segmental e du g Which 14. In combination, a counter comprising a member to released position after said shaft has said disc against rotation, electric motive means,

gageable therewith to again lock said shaft. zeroizing means associated with said shaft and said digit wheels, motive means to actuate said actuatable by said oscillating means to release motive means, and means operable by said actuplurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted 11. In combination, a counter comprising a erable to rotate said pinion in one direction and against rotation, means to print against said with said shaft and operable upon the rotation digit wheels, motive means to actuate said printof said shaft in the direction of shaft rotation, ing means, a first oscillating means, means to, means to couple said pinion to said shaft operable upon the rotating of said pinion in the opposite direction, means actuatable by said oscillating means to release said disc locking means prior to the rotating said opposite direction, means to print against said digit wheels, and means operable by said printing means to actuate said oscillating means.

16. In combination, a counter comprising a frame having arallel side walls, a transverse shaft journalled therein, a plurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a disc secured to said shaft having a peripheral notch, a pivotal member arranged for locking engagement with said disc, a pinion journalled on said shaft, pawl and ratchet clutch means adapted to couple said pinion to said shaft upon the pinion rotating in one direction, a second shaft journalled in said frame, means actuatable by the rotation of said second shaft in one direction to release said pivotal member from locking engagement with said disc notch, oscillating means actuatable by said second shaft to rotate said pinion first in an opposite direction to the direction of shaft rotation and then in the same direction as the direction of shaft rotation, means to print against said digit wheels, and means deriving its power from said rinting means to rotate said second shaft.

1'7. In combination, a counter comprising a frame having parallel side walls, a transverse shaft journalled therein, a plurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a disc secured to said shaft having a peripheral notch, a pivotal member arranged for locking engagement with said disc notch, a pinion journalled on said shaft, pawl and ratchet clutch means adapted to couple said pinion to said shaft upon the pinion rotating in one direction, a second shaft journalled in said frame, means actuatable by the rotation of said second shaft in one direction to release said pivotal member from en-' gagement with said disc, a segmental gear actuatable to rotate said pinion, pin and slot means.

connecting said segmental gear with said second shaft adapted to permit release of said pivotal;

member before rotation of said pinion by said gear, means to print against said digit wheels,v

and means deriving its power from said printing means to rotate said second shaft.

18. In combination, a counter comprising a frame having parallel side walls, a transverse shaft journalled therein, a plurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a disc secured to said shaft having a peripheral notch,

a pivotal member arranged for locking engagement with said disc notch, a pinion journalled on said shaft, pawl and ratchet clutch means adapted to couple said pinion to said shaft upon the pinion rotating in one direction, a second shaft journalled in said frame, a lunger actuatable by the rotation of said second shaft in one direction to pivot said pivotal member out of engagement with said disc notch, a segmental gear actuatable to rotate said pinion, pin and slot means connecting said sector with said second shaft, means to print against said digit wheels, means deriving its power from said printing means to rotate said second shaft, and means to reengage said pivotal member in locking relation with said disc upon said first shaft rotating through one revolution.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

